Ligue 1 Preview: Paris Saint-Germain – Auxerre

AJA are looking to secure their eighth Ligue 1 victory in succession when they travel to the Parc des Princes to meet fragile PSG...

Nov 27, 2009 12:00:53 PM

More On :  AJ Auxerre, Paris Saint-Germain, Paris Saint-Germain vs AJ Auxerre
Ligue 1 - Auxerre joy vs Monaco
Kick-Off: Saturday, November 28, 2009. 19:00 CET
Parc des Princes, Paris

Capital Punishment

The performance that Antoine Kombouare’s Paris Saint-Germain side produced during last weekend’s Clasico against great rivals Olympique de Marseille certainly did not match the billing of the game. Indeed, many observers have described les Parisiens’ performance as one of their poorest showings of the season – and it is up against some fairly stiff competition.
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August brought with it a tide of fresh hope for the sleeping giants, and with it washed up a number of early season wins, but already much of the optimism has faded. Since the close of the summer transfer window, PSG have won just twice – an unconvincing 1-0 success in the Coupe de la Ligue away to Boulogne and a far better 4-1 road victory against Sochaux. Sadly for supporters of the capital outfit, such performances have been all too infrequent.

Pressure is slowly starting to build around the club, with last weekend’s rather feeble 1-0 loss at Stade Velodrome highlighting the problems surrounding the side. PSG seemed uncertain of themselves. Coach Kombouare was negative in his mindset from the outset, preferring Christophe Jallet on the right wing to the more imaginative Ludovic Giuly, and this seemed to filter through to the players, who were equally uncertain in their offensive execution.

That wouldn’t necessarily have been a problem if the midfield had been as unswerving as their coach hoped, but without the suspended Claude Makelele, they were dominated by OM’s more physical side. PSG’s captain returns for Saturday’s clash, and he will be determined that les Parisiens don’t go down so meekly against the high flying Burgundians.

A Fine Vintage

Even though the season is only a third played, any gambler wishing to place a bet on which side would top the table after 13 rounds of matches – if such a market existed – at the start of the season, would have received long odds on AJA. At the end of August, with Jean Fernandez’s side boasting unimpressive statistics like one point and no goals scored after four games, these would have lengthened further.

But though AJA have in some ways pounced upon the inability of Olympique Lyonnais, Marseille and Girondins de Bordeaux to string together any decent run of form, their own achievements should certainly not be overlooked.

The Stade Abbe-Deschamps is buzzing right now, with its inhabitants on an impressive run of seven victories in a row. Five of those matches have taken place in the relatively small Burgundy town, but they have also recorded a win in Rennes during their fine burst – a result that few teams in recent seasons can boast.

Last Saturday night’s match against Monaco showcased Fernandez’s men at their best. They retained the ball expertly, shut the door to their opponents emphatically, and did enough in front of goal when it was required of them.

With PSG in some kind of mini-crisis, another such controlled performance would likely be enough to claim maximum points once again. Moreover, Auxerre won in Paris in May, defeating their hosts 2-1 and effectively ending their European qualification hopes last term.

Historically, that result was a statistical anomaly; Auxerre have only won in the capital four times in 29 visits, even slumping to defeat in 1995-96, the season in which they won their sole French title.

FORM GUIDE

PSG

LOST 1-0 (a) Olympique de Marseille (Ligue 1, Matchday 10, November 20)

LOST 1-0 (h) Nice (Ligue 1, Matchday 13, November 7)

WON 4-1 (a) Sochaux (Ligue 1, Matchday 12, November 1)

LOST 1-0 (a) Toulouse (Ligue 1, Matchday 9, October 18)

DREW 1-1 (h) Nancy (Ligue 1, Matchday 8, October 3)

Auxerre

WON 2-0 (h) Monaco (Ligue 1, Matchday 14, November 21)

WON 1-0 (a) Le Mans (Ligue 1, Matchday 13, November 7)

WON 2-1 (h) Montpellier (Ligue 1, Matchday 12, October 31)

WON 3-2 (h) Lille (Ligue 1, Matchday 10, October 25)

WON 1-0 (h) Girondins de Bordeaux (Ligue 1, Matchday 9, October 17)

TEAM NEWS

PSG

Guillaume Hoarau is still the only injury problem for Antoine Kombouare, who will welcome Claude Makelele back into the middle of the park after his enforced one match absence.

The starting XI will probably be reshuffled very slightly, with Ludovic Giuly likely to come into play on the right hand side of midfield.

Zoumana Camara should retain his place in the middle of the defence after making his first competitive appearance of the season against Marseille.

Probable Starting XI: Coupet; Ceara, Camara, Sakho, Armand; Makelele, Clement; Giuly, Sessegnon, Luyindula; Erding

Auxerre

Jean Fernandez will have virtually the same pool of players as he had at his disposal last weekend. Valter Birsa will be back after international duty, but they have suffered a large blow in that Ireneusz Jelen, their top scorer, will be sidelined.

Striker Alexandre Licata continues to bide his time patiently on the sidelines as he waits for an injury-delayed debut for AJA, while winger Kevin Lejeune is the other notable absentee for the Burgundy side.

Probable Starting XI: Sorin; Hengbart, Coulibaly, Mignot, Grichting; Birsa, Chafni, Pedretti, Capoue; Oliech, Niculae

PLAYERS TO WATCH

PSG

Lacking bite in the middle of the field last weekend because of the absence of Claude Makelele, the veteran’s return will be important for the side on Saturday. He must be alert to break up AJA’s quick counterattacks and keep his midfield colleagues right in the faces of their opponents. The former Chelsea star may not have the legs anymore, but he certainly has the influence.

Auxerre

With Ireneusz Jelen, the man who turned down PSG last summer, unavailable due to injury, AJA will look to midfielder Benoit Pedretti for inspiration. A man who recently stated his desire to break his way back into the national side, he is definitely the technician of the Burgundy team. Expect the former Lyon man to see a great deal of ball – if he uses it effectively, Auxerre will have a shot at taking something from this came.

PREDICTION

This should be expected to be a low scoring affair as neither side is particularly enterprising. AJA will not be allowed to keep the ball as easily as they were against Monaco last weekend, while they have yet to be truly tested on the road. PSG, meanwhile, were unfortunate in their previous home game against Nice, hitting the woodwork on countless occasions. Kombouare’s men are the more likely winners of this game.

Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Auxerre

Robin Bairner, Goal.com
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